Chapter 30 – New Directions Section 4 – The Environment and the World Economy

The Environmental Movement Review: Who was the first President who said we should protect our land and natural resources? By the 1960s, concern for the environment was growing strong. Rachel Carson was a marine biologist. In 1962 she wrote a book, Silent Spring. She said chemical pesticides (?) were poisoning our land and water. Her prediction of a future spring was: It was a spring without voices. On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens... there was now no sound; only silence lay over the fields and woods and marsh.

The Environmental Movement, continued Review: What do we call people who point out what they think is wrong in an attempt to fix it? A specific type of reformer began and were called environmentalists. These environmentalists called attention to many things: –Chemical wastes turning rivers into sewers –Factory smokestacks pouring fumes into the air –People dropping litter on the ground –Oil tankers in accidents, pouring oil into the sea – Gulf of Mexico?

Waste in water; littering; smokestacks; oil spill

The Environmental Movement, continued Environmental Protection Agency – New cabinet department that President Nixon created in 1970 to help attack pollution. Clean Air Act Extension of 1970 – Also sometimes called the Muskie Act because of the role that Senator Edmund Muskie (see picture) had in drafting it. –First time their were standards for air pollutant emissions (including cars) –First time citizens were given the right to sue over pollution

The Environmental Movement, continued Clean Water Act of 1972 – fought water pollution in rivers and lakes Waste Cleanup Act of 1980 – created a superfund to clean up chemical wastes Local governments also took action: –Many required recycling (including Upper Dublin). This reduces how much trash has to be buried or burned and slows down the speed with which we use our resources –What has your township done more recently? 100% renewable energy (?); Integrated pest management (?); RecycleBank (?)

Opposition to Environmental Protection Review: Who tried to get rid of all environmental restrictions, saying that the overregulation of businesses cost businesses too much? Some say that environmental protection needs to be balanced against economic costs. Example: Movement to protect forestland in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest is opposed by loggers (?) who say forest products are important to our economy and restrictions could cost many their jobs.

Energy Use Americans = 5% of the people on the earth. Americans use >25% of the energy used on the earth. Environmentalists talked about this but until it hit Americans in our pocketbooks, we didn’t try to do anything about it. Within 10 years of the 1973 oil embargo (?), fuel cost 4 TIMES as much as it did before the embargo. To cover the extra cost to them, businesses increased their prices to the consumer (i.e. you and me). Americans tried to use less energy: –Gov’t standards on mpg went up –Homeowners began adding insulation to homes

Energy Use, continued Since the 1970s, Americans have tried to find other sources for energy: –Many factories have switched from oil to coal. What is the problem with that? –Nuclear plants produce about 20% of our power. Problem? –Solar energy (?). Renewable resource (?). Benefits vs. problems? –Wind (?), Geothermal (?), Hydroelectric (?).

Solar panels; Wind turbines; Geothermal power; Hydroelectric power

International Cooperation 1992 – Earth Summit – held in Brazil (?). Focused on key problems: –Global Warming Since the 1980s, the earth’s temperature has been warming. What’s the problem with that? CO 2 (?) Countries at the Earth Summit promised to lessen the amount of carbon dioxide they put in the air – The amount of carbon dioxide US put in the air was still rising. –Holes in the Ozone Layer What is the ozone layer? 1980s – scientists said that gases used in homes and industries were creating holes in the ozone layer – aerosol cans, refrigerators, air conditioners. Nations agreed to phase out the dangerous gases.

Competing in a World Economy 1970 – foreign trade made up 10% of American economy – foreign trade made up 25% of American economy. US companies compete with those around the world US companies pay their employees more than in most other countries  many foreign products cost less than American This causes a trade deficit for the US. What is a trade deficit? US companies tried building more efficient factories US companies tried using a competitive advantage of quality (?)

Competing in a World Economy, continued Tariffs – what is a tariff? Why would it be good? Why would it be bad? North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) – 1993, Congress approved this treaty with Canada and Mexico. Purpose was to get rid of trade barriers (?) such as tariffs. NAFTA created some jobs and most economists say that overall it helped the American economy. NAFTA hurt some industries – carmakers moved many auto parts factories to Mexico (?) and foreign countries do not have the same antipollution and labor rules (so?) that US does.